Maria Ressa co-founded the online news portal Rappler in 2012, building a multimedia platform that became a significant force in Philippine media. Her career spans decades of investigative reporting, primarily focused on terrorism networks in Southeast Asia, alongside academic roles at institutions including Princeton University, the University of the Philippines Diliman, and Columbia University.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Manila in 1963, Ressa moved to the United States at age ten. She settled in New Jersey, where she attended Toms River High School North. She later returned to the academic environment at Princeton University, graduating cum laude in 1986 with a degree in English and certificates in theater and dance. Her academic background expanded through a Fulbright Scholarship at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she explored political theater.
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Ressa began her professional career at the government station PTV 4 before co-founding the production firm Probe in 1987. For nearly two decades, she operated as a primary investigative reporter for CNN in Southeast Asia. She managed the CNN bureau in Manila from 1987 to 1995, and subsequently directed the Jakarta bureau for a decade, focusing her research on regional terrorist organizations.
Leadership at Rappler
In 2012, Ressa launched Rappler as a multimedia news site, expanding from an initial Facebook project called MovePH. As CEO and executive editor, she directed a small team of journalists and developers to establish the platform as a major information source. Her work at Rappler brought her into conflict with government authorities, leading to legal challenges, including a 2020 cyberlibel conviction.
Academic and Advisory Roles
Beyond newsroom management, Ressa holds several advisory positions. She served on the Real Facebook Oversight Board and the Council for Responsible Social Media. Since 2023, she has been a distinguished fellow at Columbia University’s Institute of Global Politics, leading research into the intersection of artificial intelligence and democratic systems, and serves as a professor of professional practice at the School of International and Public Affairs.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Manila, Philippines
- Citizenship: Philippines, United States
- Education: Princeton University, University of the Philippines Diliman
- Key Organization: Rappler (co-founder and CEO)
- Notable Award: Nobel Peace Prize (2021)
- Books: Seeds of Terror, From Bin Laden to Facebook, How to Stand Up To a Dictator
- Languages: English, Tagalog
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Maria Ressa's academic research?
She researches the impact of artificial intelligence on democracy and issues concerning internet governance.
Why was Maria Ressa arrested in 2019?
She was arrested by Philippine authorities on charges of cyberlibel regarding a news report published by Rappler.
Achievements
- Nobel Peace Prize — 2021
- Affiliated with Rappler
- Educated at Princeton University, University of the Philippines Diliman and Toms River High School North
- Worked as journalist, editing staff and university teacher
